Texas university first to add women's flag football as sport grows in Lone Star State
AUSTIN (KXAN) — In 2024, Concordia University announced they would be adding a women’s flag football team, making it the first university in Texas to offer the rapidly growing sport on the collegiate level.
Since then, more students have joined the team and next year they will have a full schedule, but this is only the beginning.
Daniella Goodridge, who plays linebacker, safety and receiver, said it’s a dream come true and she’s excited to see so many students showing interest.
“I am doing the sport that I love here,” Goodridge said.
In a sport once dominated by men, women’s flag football is growing fast.
In 2023, around 500,000 girls ages 6-17 played flag football — a 63% increase since 2019 — according to the National Federation of State High School Associations.
Ella Mata-Perez plays soccer for Concordia, but when she heard they were starting a flag football team she joined, her hope is that younger girls will start playing too.
“It gives them a reason, oh girls can do what boys do,” Mata-Perez said.
Head Coach Keenan Hughes has seen the growth first hand as he continues to build his team.
Right now there are 15 players on the team, but before the first varsity season he said he hopes there will be about 25.
“There is already a handful of programs that have popped up since we have in the area,” said Hughes. “So, I am getting calls weekly to put them on the schedule for next year.”
Next year the team will become a club sport and can start recruiting, he said.
“Then the following year, the 26 to 27 year, we will actually become a varsity sport and we will have a full conference schedule,” Hughes said.
It can take time to build something special, but with attention to detail and good coaches, Goodridge said she is confident in the future of the sport, especially at Concordia.
“Building up athletes is something I really admire from my coaches,” she said.
As for Mata-Perez, she hopes more women will join the sport.
“If you want to play, don’t be afraid to play,” she said. “We can hang with the boys.”
